Democracy RulesThe hysterical response to the ACTU’s blueprint to restore industrial democracy to the Australian workplace only serves to underline what a brazen grab for employer privilege the Howard Government’s changes to IR really are.

History: Only In Spain?The experiences of self management during the Civil War have been the one positive factor to come from that tragic event, and the Mondragon Cooperative Corporation thrives today.

Medibank Sale "Critical"

The fight to save Medibank is far from over despite the Government's recent face-saving backdown this week, says the Save Medibank Alliance.

As Coalition MPs get ready to vote on legislation enabling the sale; unions, policy holders and other activists will step up their opposition.

According to CPSU spokesman Stephen Jones it would be "reckless" for politicians to vote on enabling legislation without knowing the form or the timing of the sale.

"Deferring a public float until after T3 does nothing to change the Federal Government's plan to push through legislation to privatise Medibank next month," Jones said.

"That leaves Medibank Private members and staff in limbo. And it does nothing to relieve community concerns about upward pressure on premiums. Once this legislation is passed the Government will be free to push the sale through when they think it is politically expedient."

Private health insurance industry experts, consumer groups, the AMA, and Chronic Illness Alliance, have all opposed Government claims that the Medibank sale will lower premiums through increased competition and efficiency.

"Even Medibank - in a 1996 Productivity Commission inquiry - has admitted the interests of members are best served when funds "view their members as 'shareholders' for whom the delivery of lower prices is a dividend," said Jones